I headed for the clean-up basket. “It happens.”
“Wait,” Gwen said as she watched me drop paper towels on the puddle. “You actually clean up pee?”
I paused to glance up at her. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s part of the gig.”
“Yeah,” she laughed. “But you’reHarrison Ashford!”
I sprayed the remnants with an enzyme cleaner. “And these are puppies who aren’t potty trained, so I clean.”
Gwen shook her head as I started on the other puddle. “Wow, the man’s got layers. I’m in shock.”
The puppies decided as a group that my cuffed pants were irresistible as I walked across the room, and I had to come to an abrupt stop to keep from crushing tiny paws. The room was filled with the sound of joyful growling.
“Guys, come on,” I said as I attempted to unlatch all four of them at the same time.
“Let me help,” Gwen said.
She knelt down to gently remove Pancake and Toast. Of course, the mental image of her on her knees in front of me sent me right back to those nights in my hotel room. Gwen gazing up at me with those dark eyes, and her mouth...fuck. I gritted my teeth and forced the memory away, but my body was already responding.
No. I couldn’t allow myself to think about what we’d shared. We were colleagues now. I was her boss. Our relationship needed to stay totally professional.
“You okay?” Gwen asked.
I snapped back to the present. “Yeah, just trying to avoid punctures in my pants.”
I cursed myself for alluding toanythinghappening in my pants.
“These dudes are tenacious,” Gwen said as she tried to pull Muffin off my shoelace. “I like their style.”
“Of course you do,” I chuckled. “I mean, you stalked me to my volunteer gig, I’d say you have tenacity as well.”
“Speaking of,” she said as she tucked all four wriggling pups in her arms. “We were supposed to tackle media training.”
“Yes, but sometimes it’s best to pause for puppies,” I answered. “When I’m here, I want to be fully present for them. It’s good for me too. I can disconnect from the stress of the real world and just…be.”
Gwen went quiet as she considered it. “I guess you’re right. Otherwise, it’s not fair to them.”
“Now you get it. This is my meditation.”
“And way more fun than therapy.”
“I agree.”
Gwen walked the pups over to the overflowing toy basket and expertly doled out stuffed animals to occupy them.
“I have to admit I’m really impressed by all of this. That you’re still here, putting in the time. And that you don’t make a big deal out of it.” Something in her voice had changed. She sounded…softer. The way she was looking at me made my chest tight. “You could easily turn this into a PR win, but you choose not to.”
“Some issues are bigger than business.” I shrugged.
“Are you refusing to take a compliment?” Gwen teased. “Because trust me, it ain’t going to happen again.”
“Don’t I know it,” I laughed.
Normally, I kept this side of me closed off from the rest of the world, but letting Gwen in felt strangely right. Maybe it was because she understood how the public perception game was played.
Or maybe it was something bigger than I wanted to admit.
“Since we’re not going to dig into work while we’re here, can I at least give you some homework?”
